Release:
SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND FBI REMOVE METHAMPHETAMINE SUPPLIER
On Thursday, February 27, 2020 around 2:45 pm, Investigators with the Lanier County Sheriff’s Office conducting a joint investigation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) involving a 36 year old female, Tomika Nacole Evans, and others, searched a vehicle being driven by Evans and discovered a quantity of methamphetamine. Investigators recovered more than 400 grams, nearly a full pound, of the illegal substance. The Investigators said that the amount of the very addictive illegal drug is nearly 15 times the amount necessary for someone to be charged for trafficking in methamphetamine under Georgia law and that a conviction under Georgia law for that amount of methamphetamine carries a mandatory 25-year sentence and a one million-dollar fine if convicted. The Investigators described Evans as a major local supplier of methamphetamine and indicated that she, and others associated with her, had been under investigation for more than a year. A quantity of currency and multiple cell phones along with other items were also seized. The vehicle she was driving, a 2017 Cadillac, has been impounded.
Arrested with Evans was another female, Jennifer Lafaye Crawford, age 40, who had an address listed in Moultrie, Georgia but says that she now lives with Evans in Sparks.
Both Evans and Crawford are being charged for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance Within 1000’ of a School and Obstruction.
Investigators said that Evans is also a part of a separate Federal Investigation in another jurisdiction and she is alleged to be responsible for the delivery of multiple kilogram quantities of methamphetamine. After the search of Evans’ vehicle, Task Force agents executed search warrants at Evans’ residence at 52 West Howell Drive as well as another residence in Sparks, Georgia. Both of those locations were under surveillance by the FBI and Lanier County Investigators, who awaited the arrival of the Task Force agents and then assisted them in their searches. Additional methamphetamine and ecstasy pills, along with other evidentiary items and intelligence information, were recovered during the searches. Agents indicated that other charges against persons who are involved with, and who assisted, Evans and Crawford are being determined.
Sheriff Norton remarked: “There is an old saying that “still water runs deep” and I hope that recent large quantity arrests we have made for trafficking quantities of heroin and methamphetamine prove that even though the average person may not see it, we never rest and we never sleep and we never will as long as people are dealing these poisons in our community. There are those who think it is simple work to get dope off the street but it is FAR from simple. It takes specialized training, considerable technical knowledge, real world experience and people you can trust to hold information in confidence. I am very proud of the team we have built at the Sheriff’s Office and the partnerships that we enjoy with so many excellent agencies from the local area and at the State and Federal level. It takes years of hard work and effort to earn the respect of the folks we enjoy working with daily and I can’t thank my Investigators and Patrol Deputies or their State and Federal counterparts enough. They are making a difference and are just outstanding in their tradecraft. Just as I have since the first day that I took office, I am continuing the fight against illegal drug sales in our community. It sickens me that there are people in our community that turn a blind eye to these poison dealers because they want to be friends with them or benefit off the illegal activity. I am encouraged by the fact that there are still many hard working tax-paying citizens who are behind our efforts and support what we do.”
